4th of July Celebration A Grand Success, Zephyrhills Colonist-July 1912

Largest Crowd Attends Celebration that has ever been in Zephyrhills. Program began at 4:30 A.m. and Lasted until 10:30 p.m. Prof. Sanders and Col. A. S. Gangs Was principal Speakers of the Day.

The celebration at Zephyrhills, on the 4th, was voted by all who attended as complete a success as they ever witnessed, north, south, east or west and the person who was dissatisfied was not heard from. At early dawn, or just before, young American opened the days doings by marching through the principal streets, burning all the powder that he had been able to procure, and by the time he had the last grain fired, the people began to come in from all the country round, so as to be ready for the opening number of the program.

Judge Hunter’s Martial band, sounded the alarm on time, and the old soldiers firing squad, soon appeared with muskets on their shoulders, not quite so spry as they were fifty years ago, but just as proud. Commanded by Colonel F. R. Cox, that old hero of the Rapid Ann, they swung into line, closely followed by Major Charles E. Gibson’s squad of Florida National Guards with their latest improved implements of offense and defense and flanked by civilians, all marched to the G.A. R. Memorial hall, where the ceremony of hoisting “Old Glory” to her elevated perch at the top of their new 66 foot flag pole.

After the great crowd sang “America,” little Miss Gladys Geiger pulled the rope that raised the great symbol of freedom to its lofty heights assisted by Rev. E. F. Gray and President Sola E. Leekley of the W.R.C. This being complete, everybody went inside the great hall where patriotic songs and speeches were enjoyed until 11:30. Floyd A. Gibson acted as chairman of the meeting and Prof. J.W. Sanders and that old warhorse, Col. A.S. Bangs, regaled the audience with their usual silvery tongued oratory.

Dinner was announced and done justice to, and at 1:30 p.m. the sports under the supervision of C.H. McDonald and F.A. Gibson, was opened. The program was a long one and every number was carried out to perfection, lasting until 5 o’clock, when everybody went to supper. At 7:30, the orchestra opened the trouble, the first number being the Zephyrhills Cornet Band, 18 pieces, forming on the stage and singing, “Why don’t the band play Dixie, etc.” They have just received their instruments and were not yet in shape to play. The program was a good one and the house was filled to the doors. The day was ideal, the mercury not running above 82, and many was the assertions that a more pleasant day, both as to weather and program, had never been enjoyed.